Method for supporting a hearing aid user, hearing aid and computer program product

ABSTRACT

A method for supporting a user of a hearing aid includes individually adapting the hearing aid to the user in a first fitting session held in particular in the home country of the user and generating adaptation data during the first fitting session. The adaptation data is assigned to the user or to the hearing aid and stored in such a way that access to the adaptation data is restricted by an access restriction. A visit to a foreign country is automatically detected and a request is issued to the user to ascertain whether the access restriction should be changed when a visit to a foreign country is automatically detected. A hearing aid and a computer program product for carrying out the method are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. § 119, of GermanPatent Application DE 10 2020 214 914.3, filed Nov. 27, 2020; the priorapplication is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a method for supporting a user of a hearingaid. The invention additionally relates to a hearing aid and to acomputer program product.

The term hearing aids is typically used to refer to classical hearingaid devices, which are used to treat hearing impaired people. In thebroader sense, however, that term also refers to devices configured tosupport people with normal hearing. Hearing aids for supporting peoplewith normal hearing are also referred to as “Personal soundamplification products” or “Personal sound amplification devices” (or“PSAD” for short). In contrast to classical hearing aids, such hearingaids are not intended to compensate for hearing loss, but arespecifically used to support and improve the normal human hearingcapacity in specific hearing situations, e.g. to support wildlifeobservation to allow better perception of animal calls and other soundsproduced by animals, to support hunters when hunting, for sportsreporters to enable improved speech and/or speech comprehension incomplex noise backgrounds, for musicians to reduce the stress on theirhearing, etc.

Regardless of the intended purpose, hearing aids usually include atleast one input transducer, a signal processing device, and an outputtransducer as necessary components. The at least one input transducer isusually formed by an acousto-electric transducer, for example by amicrophone, or by an electromagnetic receiver, for example an inductioncoil. In many cases, there is even more than one input transducer, forexample one or more acousto-electric transducers and an electromagneticreceiver. The output transducer used is usually an electro-acoustictransducer, for example a miniature loudspeaker (also referred to as a“receiver”), or an electromechanical transducer such as a boneconduction receiver. The signal processing device is usually realized byan electronic circuit implemented on a printed circuit board and,independently of this, usually includes an amplifier.

In addition, hearing aids are often equipped with a transceiver unitthat enables wireless communication with other electronic devices, inparticular with other hearing aids (e.g. to form a binaural hearingdevice system or hearing aid system), with remote controls, withprogramming devices, with mobile phones or smartphones. The wirelesscommunication typically takes place by using electromagnetic waves inthe radio frequency range from 500 kHz to 5 GHz, for example in thefrequency range from 1 MHz to 50 MHz, or using Bluetooth technology ataround 2.4 GHz, for example.

When a user purchases such a hearing aid for personal use, the hearingaid is often adapted to the user's individual needs and/or configuredaccording to the user's wishes in a so-called fitting session, by aspecialist, typically a hearing aid specialist. That first fittingsession is usually held in the user's home country, one reason beingthat, as a rule, an exchange of information between the user and thespecialist is necessary for the individual adaptation or configurationof the hearing aid, and for most people that exchange of information iseasier if the mother tongue can be used.

In addition, further fitting sessions are usually required over time, inwhich maintenance work is carried out, for example. Such further fittingsessions may also be necessary, for example, if the user is currentlystaying outside of their home country. That raises a specific problem incases where the user does not know or has insufficient knowledge of thelanguage of the country they are currently visiting to be able toexchange information relevant to the further fitting session with alocal specialist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method forsupporting a hearing aid user, a hearing aid and a computer programproduct, which overcome the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of theheretofore-known methods, hearing aids and computer program products ofthis general type.

With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, inaccordance with the invention, a method for supporting a user of ahearing aid, wherein:

-   -   the hearing aid is individually adapted to the user in a first        fitting session, which is held in particular in the home country        of the user,    -   adaptation data is generated during the first fitting session,    -   the adaptation data is assigned to the user or to the hearing        aid and stored in such a way that access to the adaptation data        is restricted by an access restriction,    -   a visit to a foreign country is automatically detected, and    -   a request is issued to the user to ascertain whether the access        restriction should be changed when a visit to a foreign country        is automatically detected.

With the objects of the invention in view, there is also provided ahearing aid configured to execute at least one step of the method and acomputer program product containing a program that can be executed on amobile data processing unit which, after starting, automaticallyexecutes at least one step of the method.

Preferred extensions are specified in the cross-referenced claims. Theadvantages and preferred embodiments cited in relation to the method arealso applicable mutatis mutandis to the hearing aid and/or the computerprogram product and vice versa.

The method according to the invention is configured to support a user ofa hearing aid. The term hearing aid stands for both a single hearing aidas well as a hearing aid system with two hearing aids, namely with onehearing aid for the left ear and one hearing aid for the right ear, forexample for a so-called binaural hearing aid system.

Irrespective of this, the hearing aid is typically configured accordingto a hearing aid of the type described at the outset, and in particularas a classical hearing aid for a hearing impaired user.

In the course of the method, the hearing aid is individually adapted tothe user and/or configured according to the user's wishes in a firstfitting session which is preferably held in the user's home country orwhere the user resides or is located. The corresponding adaptation orconfiguration is typically performed by a service provider, inparticular a specialist who is trained to adapt hearing aids to a user'sindividual needs, i.e. to adapt them to a user's individual hearingloss, and/or to maintain or repair hearing aids. Such a specialistusually belongs to a group of professions which includes, for example,audiologists, hearing aid acousticians, or hearing systems specialists,where in some cases the names reflect a specialization.

Furthermore, in the course of the method, during the first fittingsession and in some cases also during further fitting sessions,adaptation data will be generated either at the service provider of thefirst fitting session or at least at a service provider in the homecountry. This will typically be data on the basis of which theindividual adaptation of the hearing aid to the user can be traced, i.e.through the use of which in particular the individual adaptation of thehearing aid can also be reproduced. Alternatively or in addition, theadaptation data contains information on the language that the userprefers, information on the previous usage history of the hearing aid,information on any problems that have occurred in the past, informationon solutions to problems that have occurred in the past, etc.

Such adaptation data is assigned to the user and/or the hearing aid andstored, for example, at the end of the first fitting session or afurther above-mentioned fitting session, in such a way that access tothe adaptation data is restricted by an access restriction. The type ofaccess restriction varies depending on the application. Typically,however, a form of access restriction is used in which access data suchas an access code or password is required in order to access theadaptation data.

The user's adaptation data is then stored, for example, in anaccess-restricted database which can be accessed by using the accessdata and in which adaptation data for a plurality of users and/orhearing aids is stored. Alternatively, the access restriction is of sucha form that a dataset containing the adaptation data is stored for eachuser and/or for each hearing aid, and that separate access data uniquelyassigned to the dataset is required for each dataset. Thus, appropriateaccess data only allows access to the adaptation data assigned to a veryspecific user and/or a very specific hearing aid.

Furthermore, during the course of the method, a period of time spent,i.e. typically by the user, in a foreign country is automaticallydetected. For the purposes of this application, the term foreign countryrefers primarily to a country of which the user is not a citizen and/orin which the user is not normally resident. In the broader sense,however, the term foreign country also stands for a region in which themajority of the population speaks a language which does not correspondto the language of the majority of the population in the region in whichthe user lives. It should be borne in mind that in some countries, suchas India, different languages are spoken in different regions althoughall regions belong to the same country.

If the visit to the foreign country is automatically detected, in thecourse of the method a request to ascertain whether the accessrestriction should be changed is issued to the user. For example, therequest is issued by the hearing aid itself, for example, by issuing asuitable voice message. Depending on the individual application, thevisit to the foreign country is also detected automatically by thehearing aid itself.

However, the method is preferably executed by using a mobile dataprocessing unit, which is configured as a smartphone, tablet or laptop,for example. In this case, the request is then preferably output by adisplay, wherein depending on the individual application, an acousticoutput of the request is also provided.

After the request has been issued, the user has the option to agree tochange the access restriction or to refuse to do so. The user usuallymakes the choice by data input, for example as a voice input by amicrophone or as an input by a keyboard or a touch screen. If no mobiledata processing unit is provided, the input is typically made as a voiceinput by a microphone, in particular, a microphone of the hearing aid.

If the user decides not to adjust or change the access restriction, nofurther method step is preferably carried out. On the other hand, if theuser opts to change the access restriction and if an appropriate inputis made by the user, the access restriction is then typically changed,preferably automatically. For this purpose, for example, the hearing aidor the mobile data processing unit transmits a change instruction to thelocation where the user's adaptation data is stored. Depending on theparticular application, the change instruction involves, for example, amessage to the service provider of the first fitting session by SMS ore-mail, or a kind of command or command code that initiates an automaticchange. A corresponding change in the access restriction typically thenactivates or enables a kind of roaming service, through the use of whichthe adaptation data is made accessible to an extended group of people,in particular for use during a further fitting session.

As stated above, the method involves an automatic detection of the visitto the foreign country. According to one structural variant, the visitto the foreign country is automatically detected by using GPS data (GPS:Global Positioning System) or comparable data, and in this case thehearing aid and/or the mobile data processing unit advantageouslyincludes a receiver for GPS data or for the comparable data.

Alternatively or in addition, the visit to the foreign country isdetected by using a communication network, for example, by using amobile radio network and/or by using a WLAN, wherein the WLAN is basedon the IEEE 802.11 standard, for example, and if necessary is assigned aWi-Fi certification. This means that, for example, the visit to theforeign country is automatically detected if the mobile computing devicedescribed above, which is in the form of a smartphone, for example,connects to a mobile radio network of a foreign country, or at least ifthe corresponding mobile computing device detects such a mobile radionetwork.

It is also convenient if the visit to the foreign country isautomatically detected by using a so-called SIM card (SIM: SubscriberIdentity Module), for example, if the smartphone described aboverecognizes a SIM card of a mobile radio network of the foreign countryor if such a SIM card is activated. It is important to remember that itis not unusual to purchase a SIM card for a visit abroad, for exampleduring a business trip or a holiday, to be able to use a mobile networkin the foreign country. For example, the visit to the foreign country isautomatically detected when a corresponding SIM card is inserted intothe smartphone, for example, and the smartphone is then immediatelyswitched on again.

As previously stated, according to a preferred structural variant therequest to the user to ascertain whether the access restriction shouldbe changed is output by a display, in particular if the request isissued by the above-mentioned mobile data processing unit. Depending onthe application, the request is also issued in such a way that the userhas a number of possible ways to respond to the request. In the simplestcase, the user is given the option either to refuse the request or toagree to the request. As an alternative, the request specifies aplurality of, i.e. more than two, ways to respond to the request.According to one structural variant, the user is offered two differentvariants for changing the access restriction, in particular in additionto the option of refusing the request and thus refusing to change theaccess restriction.

Also advantageous is a variant of the method in which the request to theuser to ascertain whether the access restriction should be changed isonly issued when a second fitting session is identified as pending. Thismeans that in this case, two conditions must be satisfied before acorresponding request is issued. One condition is then that a secondfitting session is identified as pending, and the second condition isthen that the visit to the foreign country is detected.

A second fitting session is identified as pending, for example, if anappointment for a fitting session is entered or stored in the mobiledata processing unit, and a specified time is reached at which areminder of the appointment is provided.

Alternatively or in addition, a second fitting session is identified aspending if the user, preferably using the mobile data processing unit,starts a search for service providers, in particular service providersof the kind described above with a specialist from the previouslydescribed group of professions, who offers fittings and/or maintenanceand/or repairs of hearing aids as a service.

Again alternatively or additionally, a second fitting session isidentified as pending if an error message is present in the hearing aidand/or if an error message is transmitted from the hearing aid to themobile data processing unit.

In addition, as already mentioned, in the case of many method variants,the mobile data processing unit described above is used to assist inexecuting the method according to the invention. In these cases, theautomatic detection of the visit to the foreign country is preferablycarried out by the mobile data processing unit and, more preferably, therequest to the user to ascertain whether the access restriction shouldbe changed is output by a display of the mobile data processing unit. Inaddition, in these cases, it is common for the hearing aid and themobile data processing unit to be at least intermittently coupled duringthe method, so that data transfer from the hearing aid to the mobiledata processing unit and/or from the mobile data processing unit to thehearing aid is possible. Using such a coupling or during such acoupling, for example, an error message can be transferred from thehearing aid to the mobile data processing unit as previously described,or a fault memory in the hearing aid can be read out by the mobile dataprocessing unit.

It is also advantageous if identification data is transmitted thatidentifies the hearing aid during such a coupling between the hearingaid and the mobile data processing unit. If the user then agrees to achange in the access restriction in the course of the method, thisidentification data is typically used to perform a change in the accessrestriction, for example by sending an instruction for changing theaccess data to the location where the adaptation data is stored, whereinin this case, the instruction preferably contains the identificationdata.

Depending on the application, it is also advantageous if, in the eventthat the user agrees to change the access restriction, the accessrestriction is changed by generating access data and, for example,transmitting it to a third party. This means that, for example, anaccess code or password is generated.

This access code is then displayed on the display of the mobile dataprocessing unit, for example, and can then be shown to a previouslymentioned service provider. Alternatively, a corresponding password isgenerated and transmitted electronically to a selected service provideror a number of selected service providers, for example, by SMS, e-mail,or other message type. Regardless of the form in which the access datais transmitted to the third party, the validity period of the accessdata is typically limited. This means that the access data can only beused for a specified limited period which is defined by the user, forexample, to query the adaptation data. Once the validity period hasexpired, the adaptation data can no longer be queried using this set ofaccess data.

The third party mentioned above is either a single person, a singleservice provider, or a group of service providers, depending on theapplication. In accordance with a variant of the method, the third partyis all service providers of the type described above who operate in theforeign country and offer their services in the foreign countryaccordingly. As an alternative, these are all service providers of thetype described above in the foreign country as well as all serviceproviders of the type described above in the countries directlybordering the foreign country. Alternatively again, it includes allservice providers of the type described above worldwide.

The hearing aid is typically a specific hearing aid model or a specifichearing aid type from a specific manufacturer. Therefore, it isadvantageous if the third party is only those service providers of thetype described above in the foreign country that offer services forhearing aids of the specific hearing aid manufacturer and/or offerservices for the corresponding specific hearing aid model or hearing aidtype from the specific hearing aid manufacturer. The correspondingservice providers are then effectively specialized in hearing aids ofthe respective manufacturer or even in hearing aids of the specifichearing aid model or the specific hearing aid type. For the purposes ofthis application, specialized means that the corresponding serviceproviders have specific specialist knowledge and/or specific equipmentfor hearing aids of the respective manufacturer and/or the respectivehearing aid model or the specific hearing aid type.

It is also advantageous if in the course of the method a return to theuser's home country is automatically detected and if a request is madeto the user to ascertain whether the access restriction should berescinded or changed again when the return to the home country isautomatically detected. If the user then agrees to rescind or makeanother change to the access restrictions, the access restriction willbe changed or rescinded again, for example by withdrawing the validityof the previously issued access data.

A hearing aid according to the invention is configured to execute atleast one method step of the previously described method in at least oneoperating mode. For this purpose, the hearing aid preferably includes atransceiver unit mentioned earlier for exchanging data with a previouslymentioned mobile data processing unit. The exchange of data is thenpreferably carried out with the aid of a computer program productaccording to the invention.

A computer program product according to the invention, in turn, containsa program that can be executed on the above-mentioned mobile dataprocessing unit, which after starting, automatically executes at leastone method step of the previously described method. A correspondingprogram can also be installed or stored retrospectively by using acomputer program product according to the invention. The computerprogram product is typically a file or data medium containing a file,wherein the file contains the executable program, in particular asuitable program code.

Other features which are considered as characteristic for the inventionare set forth in the appended claims.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodiedin a method for supporting a hearing aid user, a hearing aid and acomputer program product, it is nevertheless not intended to be limitedto the details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made therein without departing from the spirit of the inventionand within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.

The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be bestunderstood from the following description of specific embodiments whenread in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a user with a hearing aid during afirst fitting session with a first service provider in the user's homecountry; and

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the user with the hearing aid during asecond fitting session with a second service provider in a foreigncountry.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now in detail to the figures of the drawings as a whole, inwhich equivalent parts are provided with the same reference symbols,there is seen an example of a method described below which is intendedto support a user 2 of a hearing aid 4. The term hearing aid 4 as usedin the following stands for a hearing aid system with two hearing aids 4a, 4 b, namely one hearing aid 4 a for the left ear of the user 2 andone hearing aid 4 b for the right ear of the user 2.

In the course of the method, the hearing aid 4 is then individuallyadapted to the user 2 in a first fitting session. This situation isshown in FIG. 1. In particular, if the hearing aid 4 is a classicalhearing aid, it will typically be adapted to an individual hearing lossof the user 2, wherein for example an audiogram is used as a basis forthe individual adaptation of the hearing aid 4 to the user 2.

Irrespective of this, the first fitting session takes place for exampleat a first service provider 6 who has specialist knowledge of hearingaids, for example at the premises of a hearing aid specialist. Inaddition, the first fitting session in the exemplary embodiment is heldin the home country HL of the user 2, i.e. in the country or state inwhich the user 2 is resident and/or of which the user 2 has citizenship.

Furthermore, during the first fitting session and thus in the course ofthe method, adaptation data is generated, through the use of which theindividual adaptation of the hearing aid 4 to the user 2 can be traced.Some of this adaptation data is, for example, parameter values which arespecified for the hearing aid 4 and, as a function of these, forexample, input signals are amplified by the hearing aid 4.

This adaptation data is then stored in the course of the method andtypically in such a way that the adaptation data is assigned to the user2 and/or the hearing aid 4. In addition, the adaptation data ispreferably stored in such a way that access to the adaptation data isrestricted by an access restriction.

Depending on the application, the corresponding access restriction is,for example, in such a form that the adaptation data is stored on alocal computer 8 or local server at the first service provider 6, andthat the adaptation data can only be retrieved locally at the firstservice provider 6. Alternatively, the access restriction is in such aform that the adaptation data is stored on a server that is not locatedat the first service provider 6 and, in particular, in a so-called cloudarchitecture 10, namely in a password-protected dataset, in apassword-protected level of the cloud architecture, or in apassword-protected database.

Furthermore, during the course of the method, a visit to a foreigncountry FL is automatically detected and a request is issued to the user2 to ascertain whether the access restriction should be changed when thevisit to the foreign country FL is automatically detected. Depending onthe structural variant, the visit to the foreign country FL isautomatically detected by the hearing aid 4 or a mobile data processingunit. The mobile data processing unit in this case is configured as asmartphone 12, tablet or laptop, for example.

Regardless of whether the residence in the foreign country FL isautomatically detected by the hearing aid 4 or the above-mentionedmobile data processing unit, according to one structural variant theautomatic detection is carried out by using GPS data, and in this casethe hearing aid 4 or the mobile data processing unit typically includesa GPS receiver. This means that in this case the hearing aid or themobile data processing unit is then configured to receive GPS data and,in particular, also to process and/or evaluate it.

Alternatively or in addition, the visit to the foreign country FL isautomatically detected by using a communication network 14 in theforeign country FL. A corresponding communication network 14, forexample, is configured as a mobile radio network or as a so-called WLAN.The visit to the foreign country FL is typically detected automaticallywhen a signal from the communication network 14 is received or when aconnection is established to the communication network 14 and thecommunication network 14 is recognized as a communication network 14 ofthe foreign country FL.

According to another structural variant, the visit to the foreigncountry FL is automatically detected by using a so-called SIM card. Thisapplies in particular if the automatic detection is carried out by theabove-mentioned mobile data processing unit.

If, in the course of the method, the visit to the foreign country FL isthen automatically detected, then as a consequence, as a kind ofresponse to it, the request to ascertain whether the access restrictionshould be changed is issued to the user 2, either by the hearing aid 4or by the mobile data processing unit. If the request is issued by themobile data processing unit or by using the mobile data processing unit,the request is preferably output by a display unit or a display 16 ofthe mobile data processing unit, in particular as a kind of textmessage.

In particular if the above-mentioned computing device is used to executethe method, in a typical structural variant the method is executed byusing a computer program product which usually includes an app, i.e. aprogram that can be executed on the mobile data processing unit. The apptypically runs in the background as long as the mobile computing deviceis in operation.

If the visit to the foreign country FL is then detected automatically, awindow with a text message is opened in the display 16, for example,wherein the text message contains the request as to whether the accessrestriction should be changed. The request is usually generated by theabove-mentioned app. Alternatively, the request is sent to theabove-mentioned data processing unit, for example by SMS or e-mail.

In addition, a number of choices is then preferably offered to the user2 in the window, from which they can select by providing an input, forexample by using the display 16, assuming this is configured as a touchscreen. In the simplest case, two choices are offered, namely, to agreeto change the access restriction or to refuse the change. Alternatively,the user 2 is offered the option of either rejecting a change orselecting from a number of different changes to the access restriction.

Changing the access restriction will then extend the group of people whohave access to the adaptation data. Through their input, the user 2decides whether to extend the group of people and, in addition,preferably which other persons or other service providers will obtainaccess. This means that, for example, a specific input will result inaccess being granted to a second service provider 18, which offers itsservices in the foreign country FL.

For this purpose, for example, the adaptation data is copied ortransferred from the local computer 8 or local server at the firstservice provider 6 to the cloud architecture 10 by the communicationnetwork 20. The transfer is initiated by the first service provider 6,in which case as a result of the specific input of the user 2 the firstservice provider 6 automatically receives a change instruction, forexample by SMS or e-mail, or else it takes place completelyautomatically as a result of the specific input by the user 2. If theadaptation data is already present in the cloud architecture 10, forexample in a password-protected data set or in a password-protectedlayer of the cloud architecture 10, the adaptation data is moved orcopied to another layer of the cloud architecture 10, for example, towhich the second service provider 18 has access, or the second serviceprovider 18 receives access data that allows access, in particular apassword. In the second case as well, the change is made either by usingthe first service provider 6, in which case the first service provider 6will again automatically receive a change instruction as a result of thespecific input by the user 2, for example by SMS or e-mail, orcompletely automatically as a result of the specific input by the user2.

Depending on the application, the user 2 is notified every time a changeto the access restriction has been made. The notification takes place,for example, by app message, by SMS or by e-mail, and preferablyautomatically. It serves as a confirmation for the user 2.

As explained above, it is preferably provided that the user 2 alsodecides which other persons or other service providers will have accessto the adaptation data as a result of the change to the accessrestriction. For example, the user 2 selects one or more serviceproviders from a range of suitable service providers. For example, acorresponding selection is automatically filtered out from a databasebased on specifications by the user 2 and displayed to the user 2, forexample, on the display 16. Alternatively, the selection reflectsservice providers who offer their services at the request of the user 2,for example a request in a portal, i.e. who have in particular answereda request from the user 2.

If a change in the access restriction has now taken place, throughwhich, for example, the second service provider 18 has obtained accessto the adaptation data, this will advantageously be followed by afitting session with the second service provider 18 in the foreigncountry FL, or at least a fitting session by the second service provider18. In the second case, for the fitting session, the user 2 or thesecond service provider 18 establishes a communication link between thehearing aid 4 and/or the mobile data processing unit 12 and a localcomputer 22 at the second service provider 18. The second serviceprovider 18 then uses the adaptation data.

It is also advantageous if, in the course of the method, a return to thehome country HL of the user 2 is automatically detected and if a requestis issued to the user 2 to ascertain whether the access restrictionshould be rescinded or changed again when the return to the home countryHL is automatically detected. If the user 2 then agrees to rescind ormake a new change to the access restrictions, the access restrictionwill be changed or rescinded again, for example by withdrawing thevalidity of the previously issued access data or by the adaptation data,which may have been changed or extended by the second service provider16 during the fitting session, being moved back to the local computer 8of the first service provider 6 and/or deleted in the cloud architecture10. The process of automatic detection is similar to the detection ofthe visit to the foreign country FL, for example by connecting themobile data processing unit to a mobile radio network in the homecountry HL.

The following is a summary list of reference numerals and thecorresponding structure used in the above description of the invention:

-   2 user-   4 hearing aid/hearing aid system-   4 a hearing aid for left ear-   4 b hearing aid for right ear-   6 first service provider (in the home country)-   8 local computer (of the first service provider)-   10 cloud architecture-   12 smartphone-   14 communication network (in the foreign country)-   16 display (of the smartphone)-   18 second service provider (in the foreign country)-   20 communication network (in the home country)-   22 local computer (of the second service provider)-   HL home country-   FL foreign country

1. A method for supporting a user of a hearing aid, the methodcomprising: individually adapting the hearing aid to the user in a firstfitting session being held in a country where the user is located;generating adaptation data during the first fitting session; assigningthe adaptation data to the user or to the hearing aid and storing theadaptation data with access to the adaptation data being restricted byan access restriction; automatically detecting a visit to a foreigncountry; and issuing a request to the user to ascertain whether theaccess restriction should be changed upon automatically detecting avisit to a foreign country.
 2. The method according to claim 1, whichfurther comprises using a mobile data processing unit or a smartphone toautomatically detect the visit to the foreign country.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, which further comprises using the mobile dataprocessing unit to automatically detect the visit to the foreign countryby using GPS data.
 4. The method according to claim 2, which furthercomprises using the mobile data processing unit to automatically detectthe visit to the foreign country by using a communication network or amobile radio network or a WLAN.
 5. The method according to claim 2,which further comprises using the mobile data processing unit toautomatically detect the visit to the foreign country by using a SIMcard.
 6. The method according to claim 2, which further comprises usingthe mobile data processing unit to issue the request to the user toascertain whether the access restriction should be changed.
 7. Themethod according to claim 6, which further comprises using a display toissue the request to the user.
 8. The method according to claim 2, whichfurther comprises issuing the request to the user to ascertain whetherthe access restriction should be changed only when a second fittingsession is identified as pending.
 9. The method according to claim 8,which further comprises identifying a second fitting session as pendingwhen at least one of an error message is present in the hearing aid oran error message is transmitted from the hearing aid to the mobile dataprocessing unit.
 10. The method according to claim 1, which furthercomprises changing the access restriction by generating access data andtransmitting the access data to a third party, when the user agrees tochange the access restriction.
 11. The method according to claim 10,which further comprises using a service provider operating in theforeign country as the third party.
 12. The method according to claim10, which further comprises providing the hearing aid as a specifichearing aid model, and selecting the third party as a service provideroperating in the foreign country and offering services for the specifichearing aid model.
 13. The method according to claim 1, which furthercomprises automatically detecting a return to the home country of theuser, and issuing a request to the user to ascertain whether the accessrestriction should be rescinded when the return to the home country isautomatically detected.
 14. The method according to claim 13, whichfurther comprises: changing the access restriction by generating accessdata; transmitting the access data to a third party when the user agreesto change the access restriction; and rescinding the access restrictionby withdrawing validity of the access data when the user agrees torescind the access restriction.
 15. A hearing aid, comprising a mobiledata processing unit configured to carry out at least one step of themethod according to claim 1 in at least one operating mode.
 16. Anon-transitory computer program product containing a program that whenexecuted on a mobile data processing unit after starting, automaticallyexecutes at least one step of the method according to claim 1.